After a vote in the EU Parliament
Greens argue about no Mercosur agreement
The EU Parliament’s decision on the Mercosur agreement divides the Greens. While the majority of MPs in Strasbourg voted in favor of an examination by the ECJ, their party colleagues in Germany are upset.
The EU Parliament’s decision to have the recently concluded Mercosur agreement examined by the European Court of Justice has sparked massive criticism from the Greens. Background: The majority of German EU MPs from the Greens – namely eight out of ten – voted in Strasbourg, together with MPs from the left and right parties, for the legal review of the agreement.
Banaszak “not happy” about the result
“I’m not happy about the result,” said Green Party leader Felix Banaszak on Deutschlandfunk about the European Parliament’s decision. “It is intended that the agreement will now come into force provisionally, and I think that is right,” added Banaszak, noting that Green and Left MPs, along with the right and far left parties as well as French and Polish MPs, had voted for a review.
Cem Özdemir and the other Green Party leader, Franziska Brantner, had previously spoken out in favor of applying the EU free trade agreement provisionally. This is possible despite the planned review by the Court of Justice of the European Union and “good and necessary for geopolitical and economic reasons,” said Brantner.
Brantner: Agreement better than its reputation
She also generally defended the free trade agreement against criticism. It is better than its reputation: a lot has been achieved in the negotiations when it comes to climate protection and especially with regard to the rainforest.
Green Party politician Cem Özdemir railed on the Internet platform He wanted to expressly encourage Commission President von der Leyen to put the agreement into force provisionally.
“Stupid and instinctless”
The Greens’ voting behavior in the EU Parliament also met with massive criticism from other parties. “The fact that some Greens, together with the AfD and the Left, are delaying the entry into force of the Mercosur agreement in the current political situation is politically stupid and instinctive,” said SPD parliamentary secretary Dirk Wiese to the Rheinische Post.
With a very narrow majority of MPs, the EU Parliament in Strasbourg decided to have the Mercosur agreement reviewed by the ECJ. How long it will take for the Luxembourg judges to submit their assessment is unclear.
